Teach children
We help children learn swimming, survival and water-safety skills so they are better prepared to stay safe around rivers, lakes, oceans and swimming pools.
Drowning prevention through local action
What We Do
SwimTayka helps prevent drowning by giving children the skills to stay safe in and around water. We work with local organisations and communities to teach swimming, survival and water-safety skills, train local instructors and support programmes that can continue long after our involvement.
Our work
Helping children stay safe around water
Train local people
We help train local instructors, teachers and community members so swimming and water-safety skills remain within the community.
Create safer environments
We support practical drowning-prevention work that helps children understand risk, recognise danger and behave more safely around water.
Support local organisations
We work with trusted local partners by providing funding, expertise, equipment and volunteer support to help them deliver effective programmes.
A locally led approach
How SwimTayka works
Work with local communities
Identify communities and organisations where children are at risk around water.
Deliver practical water-safety programmes
Support swimming, survival, water-safety and instructor-training programmes.
Build long-term local capability
Help local organisations and instructors continue delivering the skills within their own communities.
Around the world
International programmes
SwimTayka works with local organisations in communities where children may live close to oceans, rivers, lakes or other water environments without access to swimming and water-safety education.
Our first programme was in Peru, and our work has since supported children and communities in eight countries, including Brazil, Uganda and Vietnam. Together, these programmes have reached 13,700+ children.
In Huanchaco, Peru, volunteer swim instructors deliver survival swimming while training local people to become instructors. In Vietnam, 21 local instructors were certified in 2024. In Itacaré, Brazil, children learn survival swimming alongside environmental conservation.
Explore our programmes
Closer to home
UK programme
SwimTayka also supports children and young people in the UK who may not have access to swimming lessons or who have fallen outside traditional swimming provision.
In the UK, we often assume every child will learn to swim. In reality, cost, limited local facilities and cultural barriers mean many children grow up without the basic skills they need to stay safe around water.
- Removing the cost: We work with local organisations to fund free, high-quality, one-to-one swimming lessons for children who would not otherwise be able to access tuition.
- Supporting vulnerable children: We fund lessons for refugee children, many of whom have never had the chance to learn or may have traumatic associations with water.
We believe every child has the right to be a swimmer.
Learn about our UK programme
Work with us
Support for organisations
Are you a community organisation delivering swimming or water-safety work? SwimTayka may be able to support suitable programmes through funding, expertise or volunteer involvement.
Who can apply?
We are looking for passionate local partners who share our vision. To be eligible for our grant-giving programme, your organisation should:
- Be an established NGO or charity supporting children living near rivers, lakes or oceans.
- Focus on supporting children.
- Demonstrate a long-term commitment to community drowning prevention.
From support to sustainability
Our approach is built on a five-year commitment to sustainability, helping water-safety become a lasting part of local culture.
- Financial support: Funding may cover costs such as pool hire, equipment or logistics.
- Expert support: We connect partners with skilled swimming teachers, lifesavers and first aiders who can support programmes and train local teams.
- Global alignment: Our work supports the World Health Organization’s commitment to drowning prevention and follows its guidance.
Keep exploring